Luisa Reuterskiold, a dedicated nurse at University Hospital, has been an integral part of the UW Health family for 36 years. From the Trauma Life Center to the Cardio-Thoracic Transplant Unit and now the Medical Cardiology Unit, Luisa has embraced every evolution in health care—from handwritten charts to digital systems—with unwavering grace.
“I am a Filipino nurse, and Filipinos are pliable like bamboo,” she shares. “We possess the ability to withstand hardships and challenges while remaining strong and unyielding.” Her career is a shining example of this resilience.
Luisa’s path to nursing began in the Philippines where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing with honors and was recognized with the prestigious Florence Nightingale award. She taught medical-surgical nursing and attended graduate school at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila but left everything behind to join her father in Chicago in 1984. Wisconsin’s breathtaking seasons and landscape along with her husband, Cal, would eventually capture her heart, and she is a proud mom of adult twin sons.
Beyond patient care, Luisa has made a lasting impact through her service on various nursing councils, including Nursing Education, Culture and Diversity and Professional Development. Poet Maya Angelou serves as an inspiration when Luisa says, “As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart and body of our patients. They may forget our name, but they will never forget how we made them feel.”
In celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, we honor Luisa’s incredible contributions to nursing and to our patients.
Luisa Reuterskiold